President’s plan puts Palestinians in a cage
President Donald Trump's (perfect) peace plan validates Israel's “facts on the ground” approach toward legitimatizing West Bank appropriations of Palestinian land and corrals the Palestinians in a permanent cage — security wall to the west and security zone to the east along the Jordan Valley.
The Palestinians are asked to eat this sand sandwich for the privilege of living their lives in enclaves — a state without state-like powers. But first, the West Bank Palestinians must spill blood to take out Hamas and recapture Gaza, an improbable event.
Further, the Palestinians must create a liberal democracy and erect institutions of exemplary quality — a Middle Eastern democracy surrounded by despots, dictators and crown princes in blood-stained robes.
This proposal comes from Trump the impeached and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the indicted.
The West Bank Palestinians might insist that they are no different than the 20% of Israel's citizens who are Muslim or of other faiths. They may opt for a one state-two peoples resolution to the conflict. Israel wants a state from the Mediterranean to the Jordan. OK — count us in. It's our get-of-jail card.
Larry Grossman, Sarasota
Peace plan coverage shows media bias
If anyone ever needs a good example of the subtle bias many of the established press organizations (including the Herald-Tribune) exhibit, just look at the Associated Press article about Gulf Arab countries backing the president’s Middle East peace plan, buried in this newspaper Jan. 31, on the lower half of Page A4.
In attendance were Christian Zionist leaders and a Republican Party donor, while just "rounding out the crowd" were ambassadors of the Middle East countries involved. While everything negative about the peace plan is front-page news, good things about it are buried and the stories are one-sided in every way possible.
Not a day goes by when examples of this professional bias do not exist.
Len Smally, Sarasota
Election about right, wrong; not politics
I agree with the Jan. 30 letter advocating open primaries. However, rather than wait for the system to change, I decided to change my registered Republican affiliation to Democrat, in order to vote in the Democratic primaries.
I still believe in the basic philosophy of the GOP, as did my family. Politics were often discussed and a strong partisan allegiance was reinforced over the years.
Even stronger, however, was the commitment to the values of honesty, compassion and civility. I am convinced that this upcoming election is not about politics. It is about right and wrong.
Pardon the pun, but those values "trump" political differences. The economy is fickle, up and down regardless of who sits in the Oval Office.
Discernment of right from wrong and acting upon that understanding will never change. I think most people were taught these basic values, and try to instill in their children the comfort and stability of always adhering to them.
I also believe that it is crucial for everyone to evaluate how our current leadership either supports or erodes our shared commitment to honesty, compassion and civility. Should they not be the foundation, a first priority?
Susanne Isbill, Nokomis
Peculiarium should be rated PG-13 or R
On Jan. 30, my wife and I attended a performance of Mr. Swindle’s Traveling Peculiarium in Sarasota. The circus performers were generally very good, but what struck me most was the smuttiness of the “humor” throughout the show.
There were several children at the performance, and the staff told me that matinee performances had the same type of performance. I found the “humor” not so much offensive as just not funny and very repetitive.
My real concern is with any children who attend the circus and are exposed to the smuttiness. (The Peculiarium continues Feb. 5-9 in Punta Gorda.)
If it were a movie, the rating would PG-13 or R. I believe the ads and any articles in the paper should contain a parental warning so that children and sensitive adults can avoid being exposed to this material.
James Patton, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Chemicals will wash ashore from fish farm
Most mornings for 20-plus years, I walk barefooted along the water’s edge at first light from Point of Rocks to Siesta Public Beach and back. I pick up trash as my exercise/ good deed. So much washes in from the water currents, from fishermen’s gloves to barnacle-coated diving masks.
If the Environmental Protection Agency issues the proposed fish farm its requested “Industrial Wastewater Permit” required to discharge antibiotics and other chemicals into the Gulf, I believe these unseen pollutants will be carried in the same currents — and this I will not be able to pick up in order to keep our beaches in pristine condition.
June Engman, Sarasota
https://www.heraldtribune.com/opinion/20200202/sundays-letters-middle-east-peace-plan-peculiarium-fish-farm-more
2020-02-02 11:14:51Z
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Bagikan Berita Ini
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